The Challenge of Seven Churches

"John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him

who is and who was and who is to come."

(from Rev. 1:4-8)

 

I am fascinated by the Revelation of John.

But I want to qualify how I understand Revelation:

    First, it was to the seven churches in Asia, not us.

    Second, John writes apocalyptic literature designed to reveal what's hidden.

    Third, he was persecuted and imprisoned on the island of Patmos for preaching about Jesus. The churches were experiencing persecution, so the visions were for the churches.

    Finally, Revelation is about a battle between the power of Rome and power of God.

The challenge John of Patmos faced was encouraging the seven churches to remain faithful to God as Jesus did.

In order to get his writing out to the churches without being seized, he used Biblical language, images, and symbols Roman readers wouldn't understand.

 That's what you do when you want to get notes past authorities. 

 For the seven churches, Revelation is a handbook about resisting Rome's power and remaining faithful to God's power.

 For them, the letters were not about the end of the world but how to remain faithful to Jesus in their world.

 For us, God's Word in Revelation is about Christians living faithfully in a broken, confusing world facing our own everyday experiences, struggles, and successes.

 For us God's Word in Revelation is living with an absolute conviction of Jesus Christ's truth that death does not have the final say.

 Revelation says to us that through Jesus Christ, "who is and who was and who is to come," we are given hopeful expectations for a future God has created.

 The New York Times reported the churches in Lviv were packed. They were there remaining faithful to Jesus and the God they trust who has given hopeful expectations for the future.

 Thanks  be to God, the Alpha and Omega.